A collaborative effort between Interpol and the FBI successfully thwarted attempts in Moldova to undermine the Red Notice system, a vital tool for the international police agency. Moldovan authorities detained four individuals suspected of involvement in this scheme, revealing ties to an international criminal network spanning Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The operation, conducted in cooperation with French and British authorities, uncovered a plot where intermediaries and public figures in Moldova were paid to inform wanted criminals of their Red Notice status.
Veronica Dragalin, Moldova’s anticorruption chief, highlighted the gravity of the scheme, which aimed to help individuals evade Red Notices by seeking asylum or refugee status in Moldova and other countries through bribery. The financial magnitude of the corruption involved was substantial, amounting to millions of dollars. Interpol, headquartered in Lyon, France, responded swiftly to the detected attempts to manipulate and delete Red Notices, initiating action to prevent further misuse of its systems and collaborating with law enforcement authorities.
Moldovan authorities commenced an investigation following information from France’s National Financial Prosecutor’s Office, subsequently seeking assistance from the FBI. Both Interpol and Moldova emphasized their commitment to combatting high-level corruption that jeopardizes criminal investigations globally. While Interpol acknowledged the vast number of individuals subject to Red Notices, it refrained from providing further details on the ongoing investigation, citing its collaborative nature with Moldovan and French authorities.
